Door check and closer



June 23, 1936- F. c. GARRlsoN DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Aug. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 dan wtf

Iliff# .lune 23, 1936. F. c. GARRlsoN DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Aug. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inv-enfer' For'resi" C.' Garrison Patented .lune 23, 193e` DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Forrest C. Garrison, Chicago, Ill., asaignor to The Oscar C. Rixson Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Iliinois Application August 15, 1935, Serial No. 36,358

' This invention relates to door checks and closers of the sealed type in which the operating mechanism is located in the head jamb above the door and is connected to the door by an arm having a slide at the door end oi the arm which slide travels in a guide rail countersunk in the top of the door.

A purpose of the invention is to improve such constructions by an arrangement of separate checking and spring-operated closing units, each having its own spindle in a way to allow compactness while still permitting the use of large and durable operating elements.

It is also a purpose of the invention'to provide a simplified adjusting means for regulating the closing mechanism of a door and also in utilizing the closing spring for maintaining tightness in a packing at the end of a cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings illstrating the new construction,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of a door and a head Jamb thereover having the door check and closer mounted therein. In this view part of the door and head jamb is shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the door looking upwardly as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 through the door and head jamb showing in end elevation the door check and closer casing with' the improved adjusting means thereon.

Fig. i is a longitudinal section of the door closer and check.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the door closer and check with part of the casing in section and the cover plate removed.

Fig; 6 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism as indicated by the line 6-6 on Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the door closer and p check.

This door check and closer is like others in the same class in making use of a cylinder mounted within the head above a door and having a plunger, or plungers, which check movement of the door and also having a spring associated with the plunger for impelling the door to closed position; but in the present arrangement it is intended to make such constructions more satisfactory as to durability, reliable performance, compactness, regularity of outside dimensions and ease of installation. There are two cylinders and pistons, each piston being connected to a separate spindle mounted in substantial roller bearings, each having a segment gear connection to a third or main spindle which carries an operating arm connecting'the main spindle with a slide on the top of the door.

A 'I'he closing spring bearsat one end against 5 one of the pistons and at its opposite end bears against a non-rotary seat but which is free to move lengthwise in the cylinder as adjusted by a screw' element passing therethrough. This spring seat transmits thrust to the screw which in turn bears against a packing gland which tightly presses a packing around the shank of the screw. The screw passes through the end of the cylinder and has a head to permit easy adjustment from the outside.

In the drawings, a casing I for the operating mechanism is a single casting including cylinders 2 and 3 and an intermediate rectangular frame part l formed to supporta main operating spindle 5 and spindles 6 and 1. The main spindle 5 passes through roller bearings 8 and 8 fitting within receiving bosses formed in part 4 of the casting. 'Ihe spindles 8 and 1 have similar mountings within roller bearings IIJ and II.

Attached to the lower squared end I 2 of spindle 5 is an arm I8 which carries at its outer end on a ball-pivot I 4 (Fig. 4) a slide I5 tting a guide rail I6 which is countersunk in the upper part of the door frame I1, as indicated in Figure 3.

By the act oi.' opening the door, the arm I3 swingsout with the door, while the slide I5 moves toward a limiting stop consisting of cushion springs I8 carried by pins I9 projecting from a fixed block 20 at the end of rail I8.

During an opening movement of the door, the spindle 5 turns in its bearings and through a pinion 2l secured to the top of the spindle transmits motion through gearing sectors 22 and 23 to the spindles 6 and 1. Spindle 6 has a squared central portion 24 for rigidly carrying a crank arm 25, by means of which motion is transmitted through a connecting rod 26 to a piston 21 operating in the cylinder 2.

The rate of movement of the piston 21 is regulated by oil resistance controlled by a check valve 5 21.| in the piston and two regulating valves 29 and 29.I (Figure 2) which respectively adjust and control the ow oi' oil in the by-pass ducts 29.2 and 29.3 leading around the piston in a boss 30 located at the side of the cylinder. All parts of 50 the construction are designed to minimize backlash and the spring 3i between the piston 21 and the cylinder cap 28 is for that purpose.

The cylinder 3 on the opposite side of the gear casing is for containing spring 32 which spring receives energy on the opening movement of the door through the piston which slides in the cylinder 8 because oi' its link connection Il to arm 3l on the spindle 1. When the door is released. the spring closes the door through these connections. At its right-hand end (Fig. 5) spring $2 bears against a iianged nut I6 which i'lts a screw 31 and may be adjusted along the screw by rotating the latter at which time the turning of nut l! is prevented by a pin 38 which projects from the side of the nut into a groove 3! on the inner surface of the cylinder.

The pressure of the spring is, through the nut, exerted endwise on screw 31 and this thrust is utilized to keep packing 4l tightly iltting against a round shank Il of the screw which passes through the cylinder end cap 42. 'I'he screw carries a washer which bears against the packing.

There is a spring adjuster disc ll fast to the ilattened end 4B (Fig. 7) oi' the shank of the screw. Disc M has peripheral cuts 48 to facilitate rotation of the screw as by means of a screw driver. Access to the disc may be had after installation oi.' the construction by releasing ilnishing plate l1 at the bottom oi' the casting through removal of screws 4I which hold the plate in place. The casting is attached to the frame structure o! head Il (Fig. 1), by screws 50 which are normally covered by the plate l1.

The door I1 (as shown in Fig. 3) is recessed along its upper edge to receive the track I6 within which slide block Il slides.

In the operation of this door closing and checking construction, the door is manually swung outwardly on its hinges Ui, as illustrated by Pig. 2. This motion causes the arm I3 to rock outwardly from the position parallel with the closed door and as the angularl relationship changes, the slide I5 travels along guide rail i6 toward the springs Il (Fig. l) therein which serve as a nal cushion and stop for the door.

Upon the opening movement, the rotation of spindle l which is fast to the arm I l, is such as to move sector gear 22 in the direction of the arrow marked thereon. This causes the piston 21 to move to the right. The oil which nearly nils the casing goes past the check valve 21.! to the opposite side of the piston; thus excessive rate of movement of the door is checked. At the same time, through the sector gear 23 and connections with piston. I3, the spring 32 is compressed to store up power for closing the door; but springs 3i and 32 are normally under some compression when the door is in its closed position and by acting in opposite directions serve to remove all hactdash from the mechanism.

Spring l2 is at all times under compression and there is no chance for free play to occur in the construction. The separate spindles I and 1 are advantageous in this connection, each being a part of its own unit for respectively checking and closing.

The use` of separate spindles 8 and 1 also enables the use of a narrow and symmetrical casing for the mechanism and the use of heavy parts within desirable dimensions.

Should it be desirable to increase or decrease the tension of spring 32, the flanged nut I8 is shifted lengthwise of the casing in either direction by turning the adjuster 44 which serves to rotate the screw l1 which meshes with the nut. Rotation oi the nut is prevented by the pin guide Il.

Although but one speciiic embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that details as set forth may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims: 5

I claim:

1. An overhead door checking and closing mechanism comprising a frame structure adapted to fit lengthwise in the head jamlov over a door which frame structure is formed to provide l0 a pair of opposed cylinders with an intermediate gear casing, said gear casing having journaled therein three vertical spindles, one of said spindles having an arm fixed thereto with a door connection at its opposite end whereby said spindle will be turned when the door is opened, said one spindle having gear connections with each of the other two spindles, a plunger in each of said cylinders, said other two spindles being each linked to one of said plungers, and a spring for resisting the motion of one of said plungers.

2. An overhead door checking and closing mechanism comprising a frame structure adapted to ilt lengthwise in the head jamb over a door which frame structure is formed to provide a pair oi' opposed cylinders with an intermediate gear casing, said gear casing having journaled therein three vertical spindles, one oi' said spindles having an arm ilxed thereto with a door connection at its opposite end whereby said spindle will be turned when the door is opened, said one spindle having gear connections with each oi' the other two spindles, a plunger in each of said cylinders, said other two spindles being each linked to one of said plungers, a spring 3 for resisting the motion of one of said plungers,

a spring adjuster comprising a spring seat which is mounted for sliding motion lengthwise of the cylinder but against rotation, a screw threaded through said spring seat and passing through 40 the head oi' the spring cylinder, and an adjusting means attached to the screw exteriorly of the cylinder.

3. An overhead door checking and closing mechanism comprising a frame structure adapted to tlt lengthwise in the jamb over a door which frame structure is formed to provide a pair of opposed cylinders with an intermediate gear casing, said gear casing having journaled therein three vertical spindles, one of said spindles having an arm ilxed thereto with a door connection at its opposite end whereby said spindle will be turned when the door is opened, said one spindle having gear connections with each of the other two spindles, a plunger in each of said cylinders, said other two spindles being each linked to one o said plungers, a spring for resisting the motion of one oi' said plungers, a spring adjuster comprising a spring seat which is mounted i'or 60 sliding motion lengthwise of the cylinder but against rotation, a screw engaging said spring seat and passing through the head of the spring cylinder, and an adjusting means attached to the shank of the screw exteriorly of the cylinder.

4. An overhead door checking and closing mechanism comprising a frame structure adapted to flt lengthwise in the jamb over a door which frame structure is formed to provide a pair of opposed cylinders with an intermediate gear casing, said gear casing having journaled therein three vertical spindles, one of said spindles having an arm fixed thereto with a'door connection at its opposite end whereby said spindle will be turned when the door is opened, said one spindle having gear connections with each or the other two spindles, a plunger in each of said cylinders, said other two spindles being each linked to one of said plungers, a spring for resisting the motion of one of said plungers, a spring adjuster comprising a spring seat which is mounted for sliding motion lengthwise of the cylinder but against rotation, a screw engaging said spring seat and passing through the head of the spring cylinder, an adjusting means attached to the shank of the screw exteriorly oi.' the cylinder, a packing between said screw and the head of the cylinder, and means on the screw for compressing the packing by the thrust on the screw transmitted from the spring through the spring seat.

5. A door check mechanism of the class described comprising a spring cylinder, a compression spring withn said cylinder, means for transmitting motion between a door and said spring, a. spring adjuster comprising an element mounted within said cylinder and forming a seat for the spring, means for preventing rotation of said element, means for adjusting said element lengthwise of the cylinder consisting of a screw having threaded engagement with said element, said screw having a shank passing through the head of the cylinder, a screw-operating means on the end of the shank, and a compression packing between the screw and the head of the cylinder which receives thrust from said spring through the spring yadjusting element and the screw.

6. A door check mechanism comprising a frame structure adapted to fit in the head jamb over a door and which frame is formed to provide a pair of cylinders and a gear casing, a main spindle journaled in said frame, an arm cooperv ating with said main spindle and connected to the door whereby said main spindle turns when the door swings, a pair of secondary spindles connected with said main spindle for simultaneous rotation, a dash-pot plunger having pitman connection to one of said secondary spindles, a door closing spring having a'sliding head with pitman connection to the other of said secondary spindles, and a spring coacting with said plungers and ccacting with said door closing spring to take up all backlash in said connec- 1 tions.

'7. A door check mechanism comprising a frame structure adapted to t in the head jamb over a door and which frame is formed toprovide a pair of cylinders and a gear casing, a main spindle journaled in saidframe, an arm cooperating 20 FORREST C. GARRISON. 

